Iowa Mechanics Lien Form
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Get help filing your Iowa Mechanics Lien
The construction or mechanics lien, known in Iowa as a Claim of Lien, is filed on private construction jobs. Construction liens are available to parties who have performed labor or provided materials to a jobsite, and have not been paid.
Fill out the form on the right to download your Iowa Mechanics Lien Form. Use this form to file a lien in Iowa.
Rules and regulations for sending a Iowa Mechanics Lien
Mechanics Liens must be filed within 90 days of last furnishing labor and/or materials to a project in Iowa. This deadline marks the end of this 90-day period, and your lien is now due.
While the Iowa deadline is 90 days, the law does allow claimants to file liens late. In this event, they must serve the owner with the late-filed lien, and the lien is only enforceable against funds already withheld by the owner and unpaid to the principal contractor.
After completing the Iowa Mechanics Lien Form, you must deliver it to the appropriate parties required by statute. Notices are typically served on the property owner and, for sub-tier parties, the general contractor. However, depending on the type of notice, it can be helpful to send notices to anyone else who is in charge of your payment, like a lender or surety company on the project.
Others are asking about Iowa Mechanics Lien
Can a property owner use a mechanic's loan on a fully paid contractor that will not finish the work?
If I file a mechanics lien does it prevent me from suing later?
What Lien waiver is the correct to file?
Technically speaking, you aren't required to do anything with your lien claim after receiving partial payment. Allowing the claim to remain intact still secures full payment, and if the dispute reaches the point of foreclosure, any payments made will be deducted.
- We explore this issue in depth here: After Partial Payment, What Should You Do With Your Lien?
If you are still being pressured by the property owner, there are two safe options available:
1. Amend the claim: Iowa may not provide for "partial releases" they do specifically allow for the ability to amend the claim to decrease the amount under Iowa Code §572.26: "A claimant may amend a lien statement without leave of the courtto decrease the amount demanded, and such amendment shall be effected through the mechanics' notice and lien registry."
2. Provide a waiver to the owner: Filing a lien waiver isn't really necesssary, but you can sign a waiver and send it directly to the property owner as proof that the amount paid has been waived; the amount listed on the claim won't change, but they'll have physical proof that you have waived that amount of lien rights:
- If you have already received payment, you could execute an Unconditional Waiver on Progress Payment; or
- If you are still waiting on that check to be deposited, you could execute a Conditional Waiver on Progress Payment.
- For more on the distinction, see: 4 Basic Types of Lien Waivers Explained
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Other forms to use in Iowa
Iowa County Recorders
Looking to file/record a mechanics lien in Iowa? You'll need to get your Iowa mechanics lien filed and recorded with the county recorder in the county where the construction project is located. Here is a listing of all county recorders in Iowa. Click on any county to find more information about how to get your lien recorded in that county.
Allamakee
PO BOX 248
Waukon, Iowa, 52172
phone: 563 568 6351
fax:
Dubuque
321 E 12th St First Floor, Lucas Building
Des Moines, Iowa, 50319
phone: 515-281-5204
fax:
Marshall
Marshall County Courts Courthouse 1 East Main Street
Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158
phone: (641) 754-6355
fax:
Plymouth
50 Obery st
Plymouth, Iowa, 2360
phone: 5088309200
fax:
Polk
111 Court Avenue Suite 250
Des Moines, Iowa, 50309-2251
phone: 515-286-3160
fax:
Scott
600 W. 4th St.
Davenport, IA, Iowa, 52801-1030
phone: 563-326-8621
fax:
Shelby
P.O. Box 431
Harlan, Iowa, 51537
phone: (712) 755-5543
fax: